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Friday, December 20th
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The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday, December 20th Pt. 2
I wake to the sounds of footsteps outside my door. While this is a common occurrence that I’ve gotten used to, something about Jessa has me on high alert as I’ve never been awakened by them. I have no idea when the two of us fell asleep but looking at the clock I can tell it’s been a while. I slowly pry myself away from Jessa. I don’t wish to wake her but I know I need some advice and I decided while lying with her that I would seek out Deven or Cassius. One of them should know something and I trust them not to hurt her even if she doesn’t. I reach between the nightstand and bed for my forearm crutches. I actively choose between the two of them and right now I feel I don’t have the time for putting on the braces that assist me in walking without them. I slip my hands through the cuffs at the top and move swiftly towards the door. I open it wide enough to get through without causing it to hit the wall just as Deven walks by. “Dr. Leroux.” I call in the hopes that he will stop. “Are
The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday, December 20th Pt. 3
“What’s happening?” Deven and Cassius both ask loudly in the hopes that I’ll answer. “Why am I biting her?” I scream as I try to flee. Deven keeps his hold firm as he pulls me back into a sitting position. I vaguely feel the bucket get placed back into my lap as I wretch from the taste of blood in my mouth again. It’s only after a full minute of vomiting bile that I can concentrate on the flash back long enough to realize a difference. “She smells different.” I speak softly as the memory has sent me into shock. “Can you tell what the difference is?” Cassius asks, returning to his gentler voice. “When she climbed in my lap, Buddy told me she was in heat and needed to be marked. I don’t know the difference. The only thing I can tell is that I didn’t want her near me when she got in my lap but I didn’t push her away or tell her to leave. I did the opposite. I welcomed her despite her scent being very negative to me. After I bit her it changed to something I could handle. I wanted he
The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday, December 20th Pt. 4
Heading back to my room is a lot harder than joining Deven in his office. It’s a struggle to focus on the present which has led to me tripping several times, this last time has me picking myself up off the floor. “This has you very shaken up. Are you certain you don’t need to sit and talk with us a little longer?” Deven asks as he helps me to stand. I look around me quickly. We are only halfway between Cassius’s office and my room but Cassius has disappeared. The confusion must be written on my face as Deven hasn’t let go of my hands. “He’s gone to your room. He’s looking for your crutches.” “No, she’s in there.” I nearly yell as I struggle to escape his grasp. “Cole, it’s okay.” He tries to calm me but I can do nothing but fight harder as his grip increases on my hands. I finally break free only to lose my balance with the first step I take. To my fortune Deven is still in front of me and catches me before I hit. “Focus, Cole. Grab a hold of me, get your balance. Now breathe.”
The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday, December 20th Pt. 5
“You’re taking on the pain.” “Yes ma’am. I’m hoping that if I can get you relaxed and trusting enough that you can give me the last of the information that I need to diagnose you.” “With what?” “HSD.” She takes several deep breaths as she continues to calm herself. “Are you familiar with the diagnostic criteria?” He asks. “I did a little research while I was in nursing school but my heat cycles have always been irregular. This is only the fourth time I’ve had one.” Her voice is strained as she tries to talk through the pain. “Cole, do you remember anything that was said when you were paralyzed?” “It felt like you didn’t want to test me for HSD. You mentioned something about it only occurring before shifting.” “That’s correct. He never did explain why he wanted the test so badly.” He mentions again. He seems greatly disturbed that the reason was never given to him. “I channeled a dream I was having to him.” “Do you really think that had something to do with it?” I nod my he
The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday, December 20th Pt. 6
“I woke up in the hospital later that day. He left me alone for a while. Nearly a year went by. He withdrew me from warrior training and I never spoke of what happened. Mom hinted that she knew based on my injuries but somehow my father was left in the dark. At least that’s what I thought. Two weeks before my fifteenth birthday he went storming out of the house. My mom ran out after him. Alpha Tristan showed up at my door three hours later. It was obvious that he had been in a fight. He asked if he could come in. He was polite and I was concerned about my parents. He went to the kitchen and cleaned his hands and face. When he finished he turned to me and apologized. He told me that there had been a rogue attack. Three rogues had crossed the border and avoided his patrolmen. He believed that they had been there before because they went straight to the pack house and knew exactly where to find him. He was in a meeting with my parents discussing my schooling options since I wasn’t a norm
The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday, December 20th Pt. 7
“I was six months late shifting and the first heat normally happens six months after that but mine occurred a year before I shifted. I was fifteen and a half when I experienced my first heat. Alpha Tristan took full advantage of my desires during that time. He took an unplanned vacation and removed me from the territory. He put us up in a hotel an hour away. If I remember correctly I wanted sex constantly despite the pain I was in and as long as he could get an erection he gave it to me. My second one happened a year later so I was away from him by the time it occurred. I had managed to work a variety of jobs and manage the money given to me well enough that I was living in a hotel room when it hit. Unlike my first one, it was every bit as painful as it is now. It crippled me. For three days I could barely get out of bed to use the bathroom. It eased up enough for me to function by the fourth day but I was still unable to leave the room. I ended up losing the job I had at the time so
The Return to Crimson Dawn Saturday, December 21st
(Jessa’s POV)After a long five and a half hours I finally turn off the main highway onto the gravel road leading into Crimson Dawn. I reach beside me and grab Cole’s hand, rubbing it gently in an effort to wake him. He stirs lightly from the nap he’s been in for the past hour. “Start waking up, Cole. We’re almost home.” I speak calmly despite the growing anxiety within me. Spending the last two months with Cole at the Shadowlands pack has been both nerve racking and relaxing at the same time despite how oxymoronic that even sounds. Being outside the comfort of the only pack that has ever taken care of me after my parents died stirred a level of anxiety that I haven’t had in two years but being reunited with my mate before he arrived home was relieving, despite the stress of my detox and his paralysis. We were supposed to stay until the new year but after getting rid of some of the silver trapped in my wolf, being with Cole has given her even more life than before. This time, she’
The Return to Crimson Dawn Saturday, December 21st Pt. 2
(Cole’s POV)I hold my mate gently. Even when she wanted to push away, I held on without hurting her. The rejection she felt when she thought that I didn’t want to have sex with her is heartbreaking but so is her belief that all alphas are the same. My wolf has just barely woken up from his own coma a few months ago. He is still very weak and spends the majority of his time sleeping but at least his presence is strong enough for me to know what I am; an alpha werewolf. Only I’m not just any alpha, I am one of the three sons of Red Fang. While I still have no real memories of what happened I have concluded that the many different dreams I’ve had of the young boy must be some of the things that have happened during my childhood. I still shake violently every time I wake from such dreams. The hardest thing I’ve had to come to terms with so far is the conversation I had with Alpha Black over the phone. While conversing about Jessa’s journey to the Shadowlands pack he felt it was time to
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The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday January 10th, Pt. 2
“It was during his return that things became more active in his case. Alpha Demetri made the trip with his mate to the Shadowlands pack. Turns out she’s an empath and was very sick with silver poisoning. They were able to save her and to the best of my knowledge he returned to Crimson Dawn around the beginning of the year.”“He did it? He made it home?”His face lights up like a child on Christmas day.“Yes, he is with his mate in the protections of Alpha Demetri Black. Unfortunately, his amnesia has not yet resolved and as a precaution, in order to obtain custody of Cole, Alpha Black had to agree to restrict his movements until his mental health improves.”“He’s a prisoner there?”I had a feeling he would take this part hard.“Not necessarily. Considering what little I know about the hell he lived through next door and his encounter with the alpha of Purple Mountain, I don’t see where he’ll have the desire to leave that territory any time soon.”He nods his head a little more relaxed
The Return to Crimson Dawn Epilogue, Friday January 10th, 2020; 2pm
(Julius’s POV) I smile as the tall frame of my son in law stops and knocks on my open door. “You wanted to see me?” “Yes sir. Please come in.” He steps inside the room but only manages to close the door halfway before the demons of his past creep back upon him. “I would prefer this to be a private conversation but if closing the door makes it feel like you’re going to be punished then I encourage you to keep it open.” I speak my true feelings as he slowly turns around. The look of disbelief on his face. While it takes him several deep breaths he does manage to shut the door by the time I’ve stood from my desk. “Where would you like to sit?” Once again he’s in disbelief. “I need you as relaxed and level headed as possible. Where would you be the most comfortable?” I try again. “The recliner?” He manages to speak after a hard swallow. I nod and allow him to lead. He chooses the rocking recliner allowing him to rock subtlety as Hayden stirs gently. I smile as he console
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 10
“I threw a fit. Charles waited until I was outside the courtroom to start punishing me for embarrassing him. He punched me in the face several times before I fell to the ground, then he started kicking me. He kept me on the ground until he was certain Heather and Marcus had left. Even though I had driven my own car to court he dragged me to his. He drove me home, only he didn’t go to the garage. No, he went to the back of the west wing where the room he modified for Cole is. I’ve only been in that room a handful of times when participating in my brother’s torture.” I stop as the memories of wrapping the silver belt around his leg and the condition he was in when I rescued him eight months ago blend together in a confusing mess. Murmurs float around the room, commenting on my unprompted confession. “Breathe, Andre. That was a very difficult truth to admit to. No comments will be made.” I know he’s addressing the pack as I continue to struggle. “You knew what was going to happen to
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 9
“I’m concerned about you Andre.” Julius now has my attention only he has crouched down to my level. “While your statement seems to have helped Hayden it gave me the clue I was looking for.” “A clue to what?” “The true reason behind the terror you have in gaining custody of your kids. While any other wolf in this pack saying such a thing would be passed off as simply being very serious about their statement, you stating that you nearly died once to fight for them is something I take very seriously. What happened the last time they were taken from you?” I shake my head hard, holding my breath as I fight against the flashbacks trying to invade my thoughts. “Andre?” He tries again but all I can do is shake my head slowly. “Papa Redmen hit him. He made him bleed.” The innocent voice of my daughter breaks through. “You saw it?” Abe seems shocked that it would be done in front of her. I watch as she nods her head. “Mommy spanked me for crying.” She whines hard before laying against h
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 8
(Andre’s POV) Stepping into the pack house is surreal at best. My head is spinning out of control with thoughts I had desperately tried to put behind me. I had relinquished all hope of ever having my kids just for the full force of the unpredictably of my life to cripple me when I need to be my strongest. The house is silent as I pick my way through the crowd. Julius is carrying Harper and Abe is trailing behind the two of us. It seems Julius wants as much of a barrier as he can create between Hayden and any escape route he may manage to find. I’m more concerned about him getting lost inside the pack house than him getting outside it. This place has proven to be a maze to me despite living here full time for the last six months. The house is completely silent except for the television quietly counting down the seconds until the new year. I can only hope that this year is different. That the New Year will actually be the change I’ve needed for years. Shamefully, I feel the dread tha
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 7
“To show him the effects that abuse has on others. To prove to him once and for all that what his father taught him is wrong. Besides, Charles has been extremely cruel to Andre as well.” “How so?” “Well, I just learned tonight that Alpha Redmen gave each of his sons permission to have sex, to even rape, at the age of sixteen but lied about the penalty for getting the lady pregnant. Andre has been beaten multiple times for pregnancies. The first two were not his, yet he was mercilessly beaten three times during both of those pregnancies. He was forgiven a fourth when the pups came back not his. The beatings got worse when he got three others pregnant just to be denied the ability to be their father. The two older ones with two different ladies are in better packs than Red Fang but the two with him now. Well, their mother isn’t much of a mother.” I state sadly as I pull into the garage, turning off the motor as the door closes behind me. “I need your help. These pups are terrified a
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 6
(Julius’s POV)It’s an hour's drive to get from Red General to the Red Moon pack house. Since Charles has been removed, moving through the Red Fang territory has become easier as the borders are completely open while the council is here. The bad news is, it’s gotten a lot more dangerous. While open borders allows the pack members to come and go, even move out if they please, it also allows rogues to infiltrate the territory. I’ve had to up my own guards on the border to account for the vulnerability it’s created for my own pack. The council hasn’t been happy with me accompanying Andre to and from the territory. They felt that, as the coronated heir, he should be able to handle this himself. I took the opportunity of his consistent meltdowns to save the fallout from such visits showing the council exactly how severe his abuse has been. I cringe every time I hear him speak about his brother, Cole. How has Cole even survived if his analogy of the situation is true? That Cole’s suffering
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 5
“It’s quite alright. We are used to this type of reaction from children who come in abused. I can tell by the way he’s calmed that you are his biological father. We’ve been waiting for you.” I’m stunned when a voice comes from behind me instead of the nurse in front of me. I turn to see an unfamiliar woman in the doorway in front of Julius and Alex. Something about her unnerves deeply and my immediate reaction is to step back. “Easy Andre, she’s here to help.” Julius tries to calm me. We study each other silently as I sway gently. “I understand that you have had a very rough time with the council’s family court. I promise it is different this time. Take a seat so we can talk. Are you okay with me sitting on Harper’s bed?” I nod slowly without moving. “Mr. Redmen, do you think you can get him to take this?” The nurse hands me a little cup of purple liquid. “What is it?” “Tylenol 3. It has a small amount of codeine in it. Humans won’t give it to children this young but it has be
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 4
I wake up yelping, screaming and fighting from the fitful dream I fell into during the ride to Red General. I cling hard to the back of Alpha Julius’s shirt as he silently embraces me. I had no idea how hard dad had been on me until I went to Blister Ridge. I had to harden up while I was back at Red Fang which has not only delayed my ability to process what has happened but it has added to the trauma I’m already struggling with. Josh has diagnosed me with complex PTSD, he did shortly after I moved into this pack after Cole disappeared. He simplified the description as being multiple traumatic events instead of just one causing the post trauma anxiety. Julius waits patiently for me to get myself together as going into the hospital with my own PTSD on full display won’t help me with my kids. I lift myself from his shoulder slowly, taking several deep breaths with my eyes still closed. It’s only as I open them and look into his blue-green eyes that he speaks. “Are you ready?” His voic
